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How much does loft boarding cost?
Eco Spray Foam Insulation boards lofts across Orpington and Bromley. Here is what boarding costs and how to avoid paying for insulation you then squash.
Updated 8 November 2026. Prices are our rates and published UK estimates, not a quote.
The short answer
Our new raised loft boarding costs £55 per square metre, and raising existing boards costs £25 per m². Published UK guides put professional boarding at about £70 per m², with an average job of around £950 (MyBuilder, 2026). Your price depends on the area you want boarded.
The figures below are our own rates plus published UK prices, checked on 7 November 2026. They show what is normal. They are not a quote: you get a fixed price after a free survey.
Our loft boarding prices
| Work | Price |
|---|---|
| New raised boarding | £55 per m² |
| Raise existing boarding | £25 per m² |
| Loft hatch | £200 |
| Loft ladder | £150 |
| Hatch and ladder, separate | £300 |
| Hatch and ladder, integrated | £350 |
The boarding price is per square metre of boarded floor, not the whole loft. Most people only board the area they need for storage.
What do other UK guides say?
| Source (2026) | Price |
|---|---|
| Checkatrade | about £70 per m² including materials and labour; raised boarding about £1,600 to £4,000 for a 20 to 40 m² loft |
| MyBuilder | about £950 on average for professional boarding |
| MyJobQuote | about £500 to £1,500 for a typical job |
| Access4Lofts (Bromley page) | £72 per m² |
Prices vary because firms quote in different ways. Some give a package price for a set area, others charge per square metre, and some include a ladder and hatch while others do not. Compare like with like.
Why raised boarding matters
The recommended depth for loft insulation is about 270mm (Checkatrade, 2026). Most loft joists are shallower than that. If boards are laid straight onto the joists, the insulation underneath is squashed flat and loses much of its value, so you pay for storage with a colder house.
Raised boarding sits on legs fixed to the joists. The boards are lifted above the insulation, which keeps its full depth, and the gap underneath lets air move so moisture is less likely to build up.
If your loft already has boards laid straight on the joists, we can lift and raise them for £25 per m², and top up the insulation underneath at the same time.
A worked example
Boarding a 15 m² storage area in a typical semi:
- New raised boarding: 15 × £55 = £825
- A loft ladder, if you do not have one: £150
- Topping up the insulation under the boards first, 15 m² at 200mm: 15 × £20 = £300
That example comes to £1,275. Your own price depends on the area and what is already in the loft.
What pushes the price up?
The size of the boarded area is the biggest factor, because boarding is priced per square metre. A larger storage area costs more.
Insulation work adds to the bill. If the existing layer is thin, it makes sense to top it up before the boards go down (from £10 per m² for mineral wool).
Access can add cost. A new hatch is £200 and a ladder £150. A small or awkward hatch may need enlarging before boards can be carried in.
Low headroom, water tanks, pipes and cables in the way can also make the job slower.
Can I board the loft myself?
Many people do. If you do, use a raised system rather than boarding straight onto the joists, keep the insulation at full depth, and do not block the gaps at the eaves that let the loft breathe. Take care around cables and do not stand between the joists.
How to compare quotes
Ask every firm:
- How many square metres of boarding does the price cover?
- Are the boards raised on legs, and how high?
- Is the insulation topped up first?
- Are a hatch and ladder included?
- Is VAT included?
Board only what you need, and keep the insulation at full depth underneath.
Common questions
Can I board straight onto the joists?
Can boarding a loft cause damp?
How much of the loft should I board?
Want storage without losing heat? Book a free survey.
Call 01689 390157 (Monday to Sunday, 9am to 7pm) or use the form below.